BASINGSTOKE Masters swimmers had a superb time at the Ponds Forge pool in Sheffield in the biggest annual event of the year Swim England Masters National Championships.

The travelling team was made up of coach Ian Cameron, swimmer and coach Keone Crockwell and the swim team of Kate Carter, Ed Smith, Caroline Jones, Sam Irvine, John Slater, Sarah Adams, Lizzie Godfrey, Olly Espinasse, Spencer Turner, Fleur Parker, Neil Mitchell, Laura Moseley, Emily Budzynski-Seymour, Natalie McNamara, Andy Josephs, Fabio Formentin, Simon Hindshaw and Bryn Hughes.

The event started with the 160 age group Dream Team quartet of Espinasse, Godfrey, Turner and Parker going for gold in the mixed 4 x 100 freestyle relay.

They not only won gold, they set a new British and European record by all recording outstanding times collectively.

Over the weekend this team went onto win the mixed 4 x 50 medley relay in another British record claiming a record that had stood for nine years.

Two more swims from them saw another gold in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay and yet another British and European record in the 4 x 200 freestyle relay with what was quite a nail biting finish.

They took 14 seconds off the record set by Bluefins at the same event last year.

Espinasse went on to claim bronze in the 50 backstroke, Lizzie Godfrey won no fewer than four golds and two bronze medals, with a number of outstanding swims.

This included a a brilliant 29.76sec for the 50 fly and a terrific 100 backstroke in a time of 1.06.47 showing all round ability across every stroke.

Turner and Parker also swam well individually with Turner winning gold in the 200 freestyle and bronze in the 50 Freestyle, also claiming a lifetime PB of 24.84.

Parker picked up two silvers and two bronzes and eventually went 1.00.7 for the 100 free and another PB of 27.45 in the 50 freestyle.

In the 72+ age group (that’s all ages combined) we had some seriously fast relays and successes. The quartet of Espinsasse,Turner, Slater and Irvine absolutely destroyed the field in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay, winning by over 2.5 seconds.

Slater and Irvine then joined Carter and Jones for the mixed 4 x 50 freestyle relay, 4 x 100 medley relay and 4 x 50 medley relay claiming another three golds with brilliant swims.

Jones and Carter joined Adams and Crockwell to claim silver in the Ladies 4 x 200 freestyle.

Carter, Jones and Crockwell went on to swim well individually with Carter posting some great season best times, setting her up nicely for the British University Championships.

Jones won gold in the 50 back and silver in the 100 IM. Keone stormed to season best times in all her events, swimming so much faster than at the Regional Championships.

Crockwell, Carter and Adams were joined by Emily Budzynski-Seymour for the Ladies 4 x 100 freestyle relay claiming silver with a great swim and times by all. Budzynski-Seymour Emily went on to set a PB in her 100 breaststroke and claimed bronze for the 200 event.

The men’s 4 x 100 freestyle team of Turner, Formentin, Hindshaw and Hughes just missed out of the medals coming fourth again with great swims by all.

Hughes swam well all weekend with a fantastic PB in the 100 free of 58.9 and more great swims in the 50 and 100 breaststroke where he had some in-team rivalry from Mitchell.

Mitchell set a PB in the 50 breaststroke and more had good swims in the 100 and 200 and also 100 IM.

It was the first Nationals for Formentin and Josephs for Bluefins and both swam brilliantly all weekend.

They swam in a number of relays and also competed individually with Josephs setting two PBs in the 50 free and 50 fly. Formentin also set a PB in the 50 free and swam well in the 100 and 200 free.

McNamara set a PB in the 50 backstroke and also competed in 50 and 100 fly and 100 IM.

Moseley set PBs in her 50 fly and 50 back and was just off on her 50 freestyle.

Fly specialist Hindshaw picked up two sixths and a seventh.